The Oklahoma City Thunder may have lost to the Brooklyn Nets 147-125 on Friday night, but rookie guard Theo Maledon had a breakout game.
He went 6-for-6 from 3, tying a Thunder rookie record set by Terrance Ferguson, and finished the game with 24 points. After the performance, head coach Mark Daigneault gave some insight on why he has been choosing to start Maledon over the last three games with guard George Hill out nursing a thumb injury.
Daigneault said he wanted to see Maledon play off-ball next to guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
“The 3s (were) a byproduct of being off the ball a little bit with Shai, which is why we’re starting him,” Daigneault said.
“We want to take a look at that, see what he can bring to the table there. He was the recipient of a lot of ball movement plays that he would normally be initiating when he’s in the second unit on the ball.”
Maledon has been the primary point guard off the bench for the Thunder this season. The bench unit plays some positionless ball, with Aleksej Pokusevski and Hamidou Diallo also able to bring the ball upcourt, but it’s unusual for Maledon to get extended touches next to an offensive creator of Gilgeous-Alexander’s caliber.
Daigneault’s quote hints toward the long-term. It sounds like the team is curious how Maledon would look in a more prominent role with extra time alongside players like Gilgeous-Alexander.
Maledon wouldn’t start over Hill this year. But with the possibility of landing two lottery picks in the upcoming draft, Oklahoma City is wise to properly gauge how much importance should be placed at the guard position and if priority can lay elsewhere. Additionally, if the Thunder fall out of playoff contention by the trade deadline, Hill would be a logical piece for a title contender to inquire about. That’s speculation for activity down the road, but if it ends up being the case, Maledon would be an option to step into that opening.
With professional experience in France, Maledon joined the NBA more prepared than many his age. Throughout the season, he has looked far more advanced than a typical second-round pick and 19-year-old.
“When the ball gets to him, he’s making quick decisions, whether it’s a shot, he’s gonna drive, it, move it around,” said center Al Horford. “He’s a very smart, poised type of player for as young as he is.”
The Thunder want to see just how advanced he is. After a subpar first start against the Portland Trail Blazers and a decent game against the Phoenix Suns, Maledon looked like a confident player in the third start of his career, a game against an apparent title contender in the Nets.
He said playing off ball wasn’t an issue for him with ASVEL in the top French league.
“It never has been a problem. Back in Europe, I used to be in that position of playing 1, 2, alternating, so it’s just something that I’m see again,” he said. “It’s no problem adjusting to it.”
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